In 'The Paper Menagerie,' Ken Liu weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, loss, and cultural identity through the eyes of a boy who can animate origami animals crafted by his Chinese mother. As he navigates the complexities of his mixed heritage, the boy's relationship with his mother becomes strained, leading to a poignant exploration of memory and sacrifice. When the magical origami creatures begin to fade, he is forced to confront his past and the weight of his mother's love. This heart-wrenching story intertwines the fantastical and the real, drawing readers into a world where paper has the power to transcend barriers. Ultimately, it is a haunting reminder of the connections that shape us and the stories we carry with us.
By Ken Liu
Published: 2016
""We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?""
Ken Liu is one of the most original, thought-provoking and award-winning short-story writers of his generation. This is the first collection of his work – sixteen stories that invoke the magical within the mundane, by turns profound, beguiling and heartbreaking. Included here are: The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary (Finalist for Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon Awards), Mono No Aware (Hugo Award winner), The Waves (Nebula Award finalist), The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species (Nebula and Sturgeon award finalists), All the Flavors (Nebula Award finalist), The Litigation Master and the Monkey King (Nebula Award finalist) ,and the most awarded story in the genre's history, The Paper Menagerie (the only story ever to win the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards).
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“"We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?"”
The Paper Menagerie
By Ken Liu
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Ken Liu is an award-winning author, translator, and lawyer known for his contributions to speculative fiction, most notably in science fiction and fantasy. He is the author of the critically acclaimed novel "The Grace of Kings," which is the first book in the Dandelion Dynasty series, as well as the short story collection "The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories." Liu's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, deep philosophical themes, and exploration of the intersections of technology, culture, and history. He has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, solidifying his place as a significant figure in contemporary literature.
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